Aquatic planting process and related plant holders

ABSTRACT

A process for planting aquatic plants underwater on the bottom and edges of estuary&#39;s where an aquatic plant which is ready for transplanting is positioned in a holder having a means for retaining the transplantable plant. The holder may be weighted with a bottom gripping section to secure the holder including the plant to the estuary bottom. The preformed holders may be positioned on the bottom of the estuary or broadcast on the surface. The preferred gripping sections are rocks, stones and mollusk shells. The holders also incorporates an organic button which retains the aquatic plant during the planting process.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional application of application Ser.No. 09/871,416, filed May 3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,981.

[0002] This invention is concerned with a process and related apparatuswhereby aquatic plants may be planted underwater for purposes ofrestoration. The restoration of all aspects of the environment hasbecome extremely important in recent years, The three areas ofrestoration which are of primary importance are, reducing air pollution,restoring and cleaning up the land and cleaning up and restoring ourwaterways, the ocean and related estuaries. It is these relatedestuaries that are the primary thrust of the subject invention.

[0003] As a result of the decrease in water quality millions of acres ofaquatic plant life, which form an important part of the aquatic ecosystem have been destroyed. That is because of a decrease in waterquality, in other words pollution, aquatic plant life has beendestroyed. In most cases this destruction has been gradual over a longperiod of years however, in some instances it can be rapid for exampleas a result of a ship wreck.

[0004] Because aquatic plant life is an important part of the complexaquatic environment, the restoration of this plant life is of primaryimportance.

[0005] The natural restoration of aquatic plant life is an extremelyslow process. While it is possible to manually plant shoots of aquaticplants, due to the cost of labor, the manual planting of sea grassplants is at best marginally successful. Due to the difficulty ofmanually planting shoots of aquatic plants, the cost of manuallyplanting just one acre of an estuary can be many tens of thousands ofdollars. Further manually planting in some instances is of questionablesuccess as the person doing the planting, in walking over the bottom ofan estuary, does further damage by crushing other plants which may begrowing in the area.

[0006] This invention is concerned with a process and apparatus wherebysea grass can be quickly planted in an economical fashion.

[0007] As used in connection with this invention the terms aquatic plantlife and sea grass includes many species of plant life such as halodulewrightii (shoal grass), thalassia (turtle grass) etc.

[0008] Aquatic plant life as it exists in estuaries is important inpreventing water pollution as this plant life acts as a filter for manypollutants and hence this plant life helps to maintain water quality.

[0009] The restoration of aquatic life to the bottom of our estuaries isextremely important as this aquatic plant life plays a critical functionin the total marine eco system. A large number of important marineanimals, both warm and cold blooded, rely totally or in part on thisaquatic plant life for breeding areas, for cover, for food etc., forexample the endangered manatee relies solely on sea grass as its foodsource.

OBJECTS

[0010] The primary object of this invention is a process whereby aquaticplant life may be positioned on and planted on the bottom and edges ofan estuary.

[0011] Still another object is related apparatus whereby this plantingmay be effected with minimal damage to the bottom of the estuary.

[0012] Still another object of this invention is a process for growingaquatic plants that are suitable for planting on the bottom of anestuary.

[0013] Another object is a holder for use in planting aquatic plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing holders which utilizemollusk shells.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a floatable holder.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder which utilizes a stone.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holder which utilizes a bricksection.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder wherein the plant issecured with a biomass.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] The subject invention relates to a process for planting aquaticplants such as a wide variety of sea grasses. The invention is alsoconcerned with a process for growing aquatic plants such that they aresuitable for use with the process and apparatus of this invention.

[0020] The process of this invention, in its broadest terms, comprisesthe growing and positioning of a shoot of an aquatic plant in a holderwhich facilitates its planting underwater.

[0021] As is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,537 issued Jun. 6, 2000, thisinvention is concerned with a plurality of composite structures whichmay be manually positioned on an estuary bottom. Further these compositestructures may be broadcast from a boat and allowed to settle to thebottom of the estuary. It is desirable to have the whole planting systemformed from natural materials. A plurality of natural holders areillustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

[0022] One embodiment of a natural holder 3 is illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2.

[0023] In this structure the plant retaining section is a button 6 whichis secured to a mollusk shell 5. Shell 5 is preferably one half of anoyster or clam shell. Aquatic plant shoot 8 protrudes from button 6.Button 6 may incorpoprate fertilizer which will aid the growth of plantshoot 8. Shell 5 forms the estuary bottom gripping section.

[0024] Since holder 3 is formed from a mollusk shell the compositesystem 3 is all natural and hence nothing foreign is introduced into oron the estuary bottom.

[0025] As is shown in FIG. 2 button 6 may be secured to either side ofmollusk shell 5. However, it is preferred that button 6 be secured tothe inside of mollusk shell 5 as is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0026] In accordance with still another embodiment button 6, as isdefined structure is eliminated and replaced with a biomass 9 as isshown in FIG. 6. Biomass 9 consist of a growing medium such as peat mosswhich is initially in a semi liquid paste form which incorporates anadhesive.

[0027] As is stated above in connection with button 6 biomass 9 mayincorporate fertilizer and other plant nutrients.

[0028]FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an aquatic plant holderfor use in this invention wherein a button 6 is secured to a floatablebase 9, a block of wood 9 being illustrated. The composite density ofholder 7 is less than 1 therefore holder 7 will float. This ability tofloat is useful when it is desirable to plant plants in very shallowwater as holder 7 can be broadcasted on to the water and allowed to thewater and allowed to drift into shallow water until it is grounded andgripss the estuary bottom. While a rectangular block of wood 9 is shownthis base can assume other shapes such as disc shaped, tubular shaped orround shape.

[0029] Holder 7 is useful in planting plants at the water edge such asrestoring mangroves wherein shoot 8 is a mangrove shoot which is allowedto drift to the edge of the estuary where it can take root.

[0030]FIG. 4 illustrates still another embodiment of an aquatic plantholder 13 wherein a button 6 is secured to a rock 11 which forms theestuary bottom gripping section.

[0031] Still another embodiment of an aquatic plant holder 17 is shownin FIG. 5. In aquatic plant holder 17 a button 6 is secured to a sectionof brick 15. Brick section 15 can be designed to designate over a periodof time by controlling the degree to which brick section 15 is fired.Brick section 15 comprises the estuary bottom gripping section.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 4 rock 11 can be any dense substance such ascrushed aggregate, gravel, stones. etc.

[0033] After the formation of aquatic plant holders 3,7,13,17 and 19aquatic plant 7 can be incubated in a nursery prior to the placement ofthe composite structures into the estuary.

[0034] The composite density of aquatic holders 3,13,17 and 19 isgreater than 1 due to the incorporation of dense estuary bottom grippingsections 5,11 and 15 into the holders. Because these densities aregreater than 1 these aquatic plant holders will sink to the estuarybottom.

[0035] While specific bases 5,7,11 and 15 are shown in FIGS. 1-6 theseestuary bottom gripping sections can also be formed from polymericnaterials which are not harmful to the environment such as polymericmaterials which are blended with materials such as starch. These blendedpolymeric materials can be engineered to decompose in a set period oftime after being exposed to ultraviolet light or to an aqueousenvironment such as warm salt water.

[0036] Any suitable adhesive or mechanical means may be used to securebutton 6 to a suitable base. An example of a suitable adhesive is anadhesive sold under the trademark 5200 by the 3M Corporation.

[0037] The plant gripping section button 6 can be formed from anymaterial which is capable of holding plant 8 during the plantingprocess. In the preferred embodiment button 6 is formed from an organicmaterial such as compressed peat moss, compressed polystyrene beads,compressed manure, mixtures thereof tec. Button 6 incorporates anaperture 18 which is capable of retaining plant 8. Buttons being formedfrom compressed peat are the preferred embodiment for use with thisinvention as they are capable of holding plant 8 during incubation in anursery and during planting.

[0038] Button 6 as used in this invention may be laced with fertilizerand trace minerals which aid in the growth and root formation of plant8.

[0039] Button 6 when formed from compressed peat moss expands after itis exposed to an aqueous environment.

[0040] If incubated in a nursery once plant 8 has formed roots, thecomposite structure is planted in accordance with the process of thisinvention.

[0041] A seed could be substituted for plant 8 in button 6 or itsequivalent wherein the seed would germinate in button 6.

[0042] The above description and drawings are illustrative ofmodifications that can be made without departing from the presentinvention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for planting individual aquatic plantsor groups of aquatic plants in an estuary having a bottom, whichcomprises the steps of: a. positioning an aquatic plant or seed in aholder which has an aquatic plant or seed retaining section and afloating section which are secured to each other, b. placing saidaquatic plant seed holder in an estuary such that it is allowed floatand drift on said estuary, c. wherein the density of the compositeaquatic plant or seed holder is less than 1 gm/cc.
 2. The process ofclaim 1 wherein the holder is broadcast onto the estuary surface.
 3. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein the floating section disintegrates in apredetermined period of time.
 4. The process of claim 2 wherein thefloating section disintegrates in a predetermined period of time.
 5. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein the aquatic plant or seed retaining sectionis formed from an organic medium which is conducive of aquatic plantgrowth.
 6. The process of claim 2 wherein the aquatic plant or seedretaining section is formed from an organic medium which is conducive ofaquatic plant growth.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the floatingsection is a piece of wood.
 8. The process of claim 2 wherein thefloating section is a piece of wood.
 9. The process of claim 3 whereinthe floating section is a piece of wood.
 10. The process of claim 4wherein the floating section is a piece of wood.
 11. The process ofclaim 5 wherein the floating section is a piece of wood.
 12. The processof claim 6 wherein the floating section is a piece of wood.
 13. Anaquatic plant or seed holder which is suited for the planting of aquaticplants or seeds in an estuary which comprises, an aquatic plant or seedretaining section and a floating section are secured to each other. 14.An aquatic plant or seed holder of claim 13 wherein the aquatic plant orseed retaining section and the floating section are secured to eachother with an adhesive.
 15. The aquatic plant or seed holder of claim 13wherein the estuary floating section is a member selected from the groupconsisting of piece of wood or a section of a cellular polymericmaterial.
 16. The aquatic plant or seed holder of claim 14 wherein theaquatic plant or seed retaining section formed from an organic mediumwhich is conducive to aquatic plant growth.
 17. The process of claim 1wherein the floating section is a member selected from the groupconsisting of a piece of wood or a section of a cellular polymericmaterial.